Apparatus for use in feeding running lengths of multi-component material



Jan. 4, 1966 H. PIKE APPARATUS FOR USE IN FEEDING RUNNING LENGTHS OF MULTI-COMPONENT MATERIAL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 23, 1965 m m Mm N H R w D Em m A Z T m WWW M Y B M APPARATU OR USE IN FEEDING RUNNING LENGTHS Filed Jan- 1963 MULTI-COMPONENT MATERIAL 2 Sheets-sheet z J uhw mm w g m J," {HH 1 hwmg H65 4%; Q Q( j;

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A TTORNEX United States Patent APPARATUS FUR USE IN FEEDING RUNNING LENGTHS 0F MULTI-CGMPONENT MATERIAL Howard Pike, La Grange, Ga, assignor to (Iallaway Mills Company, La Grange, Ga., a corporation of Georgia Filed Jan. 23, N63, Ser. No. 253,330 12 Claims. (Ci. 112-79) This invention pertains to apparatus for use in the feeding of running lengths of multi-component material. In particular, it pertains to such an apparatus embodied in a multiple needle tufting machine wherein a plurality of multi-component strands are being fed through a strand movement controlling mechanism. The purpose of the apparatus in this environment is to effect the severing of strand components which have been caught on the strand movement controlling mechanism so as to prevent excessive strand unraveling and impedance of strand movements.

In mechanisms such as multiple needle tufting machines it is conventional for large numbers of multi-component strands to be fed from a strand supply source to a needle bar containing a plurality of tufting needles. Conventionally this plurality of strands is fed in parallel through a mechanism which controls the tufting pattern. This mechanism functions during the transporting of strands from their source to the needles to control individual strand movement so as to supply strand increments in accordance with tufting pattern requirements.

While strands are being transported from their supply source to the needle bar and passing through the pattern control mechanism, they are physically engaged by elements of the pattern control mechanism.

Occasionally a strand, such as a strand comprised of a plurality of continuous filaments twisted together, in passing through the pattern control mechanism will have a component such as an individual filament catch on an element of the mechanism and commence to separate from a strand. A component thus caught will impede, and possibly even stop, the controlled movement of the strand and will damage the strand through the separating action. The separating component may even engage adjacent strands so as to impede their advancement toward the needle bar.

Heretofore, the tendency for strands to catch on transporting means such as pattern control mechanisms has been of such consequence as to require close attention by machine operators in order to prevent interference with strand feeding which would adversely affect a tufting pattern.

In recognition of the substantial operating problems engendered by strand component separating tendencies, it is an object of this invention to provide an apparatus for use in the feeding of running lengths of multicomponent material, such as continuous filament, tufting strands, which automatically and effectively causes the severing of separating material components which have become caught upon a material transporting mechanism such as a pattern control unit associated with a tufting machine.

It is a particular object of the invention to provide such a severing apparatus which in no way interferes with the transporting of material and which may be conveniently integrated with existing mechanisms.

It is another object of the invention to provide such a severing apparatus which is characterized by nominal structural complexity so as to minimize the initial fabrication and maintenance costs.

Still another object or" the invention is to provide such a severing mechanism which is characterized by high op 3,227,120 Patented Jan. 4, I966 erational reliability and which does not require the personal attention of a machine operator.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide such a severing apparatus which occupies a minimum amount of space and which may be placed in close proximity to material transporting mechanisms.

A final object of the invention is to provide such a severing apparatus which is particularly adapted for incorporation in multiple needle tufting machines wherein the control of strand advancement is effected by a material transporting unit including a pluarlity of peripherally notched, strand engaging members carried -by endless conveyers.

In accomplishing the objects of this invention there is envisioned an apparatus for use in the feeding of running lengths of multi-component material, which apparatus includes material transporting means engaging at least one running length of multi-component material. The apparatus is characterized by surface means which are adaptedto be heated to a temperature sufficient to sever components of the material. This surface means is positioned within a path which would be traversed by material components caught on the material transporting means and separating from a running length of material.

Preferably, the surface means comprises a wire adapted to be heated by a flow of electrical current therethrough, which wire extends generally transversely across the direction of travel of said multi-component material.

In describing the invention reference will be made to preferred embodiments of the apparatus illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In these drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic, elevational view of a tufting machine including a conventional pattern control mechanism in combination with the material component severing device of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a schematic andfragmentary view of a portion of the FIGURE 1 apparatus showing in enlarged detail the manner in which the strand component severing device is associated with the strand movement controlling mechanism;

FIGURE 3'is a view of one end of the strand movement controlling mechanism and the strand component severing device of FIGURE 2, as viewed along the direction A;

FIGURE 4 is a schematic view of a preferred form of the strand component severing device of this invention showing a representativeelectrical circuit which may be adapted to effected the heating thereof;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of a portion of the strand component severing device showing an associated shielding and supporting mechanism;

FIGURE 6 is a schematic illustration of another material transporting mechanism with which the material component severing device of this invention may be incorporated; and

FIGURE 7 illustrates still another material transporting mechanism with which the strand component severing device of this invention may be incorporated.

In FIGURE 1 there is schematically illustrated a conventional tufting apparatus 1 provided with an associated strand movement controlling, i.e. pattern controlling unit 2.

Tufiting apparatus 1, in the usual fashion, is provided with a needle bar 3 adapted to he vertically reciprocated' by a needle bar drive mechanism contained within a housing 4. As any appropriate needle drive mechanism may be employed, and as the particular drive mechanism utilized forms no part of the present invention, it is not illustrated. In the conventional fashion, the needle bar 3 supports a plurality of tufting needles 5. In the manner well known in the art and thus not illustrated, needles 5 extend transversely across a web 6 of backing material being fed transversely in the direction B through the path or reciprocation of the tufting needles 5.

A plurality of multi-component tufting strands 7 extend from a supply source, not shown, through the mechanism 2 and then pass to the tufting needles 5. For purposes of strand control, each strand 7 may be passed through a conventional eyelet 8 carried by a portion 9 of the stationary housing 4 and through another eyelet 10 carried by the reciprocable needle bar 3. Eyelets 8 and 1% are conventional in nature and cooperate to properly determine the feeding position of a strand 7 in the vicinity of a tufting needle 5 through which it is threaded.

In the conventional arrangement shown in FIGURE 1, the pattern control mechanism 2 is elevated somewhat above the needle bar 3 and its associated tufting needles 5. Due to this difference in elevation, the strands 7 are inclined downwardly away from the pattern control mechanism 2 toward the tutting needles 5.

The pattern control mechanism 2 illustrated in FIG- URE 1 is of the type commonly denominated as a notched bar pattern control. It comprises a pair of cooperating endless conveyors 11 and 12, portions only of which are shown in FIGURE 1. Endless conveyer 11 is superposed above endless conveyer 12 so as to provide a conveyer flight portion 11a disposed immediately above a conveyor flight portion 12a. Conveyer 11 is supported on framing 13 while conveyer 12 is supported on framing 14 so as to obtain the proper superposed positioning of flights 11a and 12a of conveyers 11 and 12 respectively.

A plurality of pattern controlling members 15 are mounted upon the endless conveyer 11 so as to project outwardly from the outer periphery of the conveyer 11 and extend transversely across the direction of movement of this conveyer. As shown in FIGURE 3, each member 15 is provided with a plurality of notches 16 which extend inwardly from the outer periphery thereof.

Conveyer 12 is similarly provided with a plurality of members 17 which project outwardly from the outer periphery of the conveyer 12 and extend transversely across the direction of movement of this conveyer. Members 17 may also be provided with notches 18 which extend inwardly from the outer peripheries thereof.

In the manner shown in FIGURES l and 3, strands 7 are fed through the pattern control mechanism 2 so as to engage the transversely extending members 15 and 17 carried by the endless conveyers 11 and 12 respectively. As shown in FIGURE 1, the transverse members 15 carried by the conveyer 11 extend into the spaces between transverse members 17 carried by the conveyer 12. The notches formed on the outer peripheries of the transverse members 15 are aligned in the direction of strand advancement while similarly the notches formed on the outer peripheries of the transverse members 17 are aligned in the direction of strand advancement. Each strand 7 passes through the pattern control mechanism 2 so as to be positioned in one series of aligned notches of members 15 and also positioned in an aligned series of notches in the transversely extending members 17. Due to the intermeshed character of the members 15 and 17, the strand will be deflected between adjacent members 15 and between adjacent members 17 to an extent depending upon the depths of the notches formed in these members.

In a manner now well understood in the tufting art, the notched character of the cooperating members 15 and 17 effectively controls and determines the length of strand made available to each tufting needle during each cycle of its reciprocation. This control is determined by the relative depths of notches formed in the transversely extending members carried by the conveyers 11 and 12. As will be appreciated, the notching of these members may be limited to either the members 15 or the members 17 if desired. In the illustrated arrangement, pattern control notches are formed only in the members 15 while relatively limited or shallow notches are formed in the transversely extending members 17 for the purpose of aligning and stabilizing strands as they pass through the pattern control mechanism 2.

As shown in FIGURE 3, the notches 16 carried by the members 15 are of substantial depth. In practice it has been found that such notches occasionally have a tendency to catch the edges of strands so as to engage and hold strand components, such as strand fibers, and cause their unraveling from a strand being fed. As shown in FIGURE 1, a loop-like strand component 19 has caught upon the side of a notch 16a in a transverse member 15a. As the notched member 15a continues in its movement with the conveyer 11, it would tend to unravel the strand component 19 from a traveling strand '7. FIG- URES 1, 2 and 3 illustrate the manner in which the severing device of the present invention is employed to effectively sever the unraveling strand component 19.

The strand severing device associated with the FIG- URE 1 apparatus is associated wtih the members 15 and comprises a wire 2% which extends transversely across the strands 7 being fed to the tufting needles 5. The wire 20 is disposed in generally parallel alignment with the strands '7 and is positioned above these strands and parallel with the periphery of the conveyers 11 and 12. In the FIG- URE l apparatus the shallow strand guiding notches 18 formed on the transversely extending members 17 will inherently have a materially less strand component catching tendency than the deeper notches 16 carried by the bars 15. For this reason, it is likely that a second, heated strand component severing wire would not have to be provided in association with the members 17 The wire 21) may be fabricated of nickel chrome wire and may be of a size such as gauge 20 on the American wire gauge scale. Wire 21 is heated by flowing an electrical current therethrough so that the wire attains a strand component severing temperature, i.e. a temperature suflicient to effect the severing of a strand component brought into engagement with the Wire periphery. Where strands such as continuous filament nylon are involved, it has been determined that a wire temperature of 550 F. would be sufficient.

The wire 20 is positioned so as to be disposed within the travel path of strand components caught on notches of the strand feed controlling members 15 and unraveling or separating from strands 7. With this arrangement, any strand component caught on any member 15 will be caused to be brought into engagement with the periphery of the wire 20 and severed as it is being unraveled from a strand 7.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the loop-like component 19 caught in the notch 16a of the bar 15a will first have a leading side 19a brought into engagement with the hot periphery of the wire 21) and severed. Further advancement of the strand 7 and the pattern control bar 15a will be effective to cause trailing side 1% to engage the heated wire 21) and be severed. In this manner the unraveling strand component is completely severed from the strand. Any residual strand component portion remaining caught in the notched portion 16a may be removed from the pattern control mechanism during conventional servicing of the mechanism, or more likely, will fall free from the mechanism during continued operation thereof.

Should the residual strand component portion 19c remain caught and move or whip laterally so as to engage adjacent strands 7 or reengage the same strand 7 from which it was severed on a succeeding movement cycle of the conveyer 11, resevering of any newly separating strand components would be promptly and effectivelyobtained through the action of the heated wire 21 Desirably the wire 2%) is positioned adjacent the point of release of the strands 7 from the notched members of the FIGURE 1 apparatus as shown. This positioning of the wire 21) in close proximity to the apparatus 2 insures prompt severing of caught strand components and thus nents with the feeding of strands.

As will be readily apparent, several parameters will determine the optimum positioning of the heated wire 20. It is generally desirable for the wire to be positioned in maximum proximity to the point of release of strands from the pattern control mechanism so as to insure prompt severing of unraveling strand components. However, in so doing, it is essential to position the heated wire 29 at a distance sufiiciently separated from the strands 7 so as to avoid the burning or scorching of the strands due to the heat radiating from the wire 20. The distance at which the wire is spaced from the traveling strands 7 will be determined by such factors as the speed of the strands 7 and the nature of material from which they are fabricated.

As will be appreciated, in the absence of a severing wire 20 an unravelin strand caught and remaining on a transverse member 15 would seriously impede the movement of the strand 7 from which it was unraveling and thus adversely affect the tufting pattern with which that strand was associated. A caught but unsevered component such as a continuous nylon filament would have such strength as to seriously interfere with, or possibly interrupt, the feeding of a strand from which it was separating.

FIGURES 6 and 7 illustrate strand transporting arrangements alternative to that shown in FIGURE 1 wherein the strand component severing device of this invention may be utilized.

FIGURE 6 illustrates a material feeding mechanism comprising a pair of rolls 21 and 22. On the outer periphery of the roll 21 there are mounted a plurality of outwardly and radially projecting members 23 which extend along the axis of the roll 21 in general alignment with the axis of rotation 2d. Roll 22 is similarly provided with a plurality of outwardly and radially projecting members 25 which extend along the axis of rotation 26 of the roll 22. As illustrated, the members 23 carried by the roll 21 project into the spaces between the members 25 carried by the roll 22. This meshing relationship of the members 23 and 25 is effective to deflect a length of material 28 being fed between the rolls 21 and 22 in the manner shown in FIGURE 6. As there shown, one side of the material 28 is engaged by the radially extending membars 23 while the other side of the material 23 is engaged by the radially projecting members 25'. Material 28 may comprise a strand or a plurality of strands. The members 23 and 25 may be notched in a manner analogous to the notching of the members 15 and I? of the FIGURE 1 apparatus.

In the FIGURE 6 arrangement, the material 28 extends along a median plane between the rolls 2.1 and 22. One wire 29 is positioned between the material 28 and the roll -21, extends parallel to the roll axis 24, and lies adjacent the point where the material 28 is disengaged from the radially extending members 23. Similarly, another wire 30 positioned between the material 28 and the roll 22, extends parallel to the roll axis 26 and lies adjacent the point where the material 28 is released by the radially projecting members 25. Wires 29 and 3% are each electrically conductive and heated by the passage of electric current flowing therethrough. Heated wire 29, as shown in FIGURE 6, is effective to engage and sever a strand component 31 caught on a radially projecting member 23a and unraveling from the upper side of the material 28. Similarly, the heated wire 30 is effective to engage and sever a strand component such as component 32 which is caught on a member 25:: and separating from the lower side of the material 28.

In FIGURE 7 a running length of material 33 is threaded in a figure S pattern through a pair of spaced, parallel rolls 34 and 35 which may be idler or driven rolls. Such rolls, when possessed of roughened or friction producin surfaces, may tend to have strand filament or component catching tendencies. As shown in FIGURE 7,

6 the length of material 33, which may comprise a strand of multi-component materials or a plurality of such strands, passes partially around the lower surface or side of the roll 37, passes between the rolls 34 and 35 and then passes partially around the upper surface of the roll 35 to continue in its travel path toward its destination.

One wire 36 is positioned between the roll 34 and the length of material 33 so as to extend generally parallel to the axis of rotation of the parallel rolls 34 and 35. Wire 36 is electrically conductive in nature and heated by the passage of electric current flowing therethrough as in the case of the FIGURE 1 and FIGURE 6 embodiments. A strand component 37 caught on the roll 34 and separating from the length of material 33 would be severed as shown in FIGURE 7.

An electrically conductive Wire 38, heated by the passage of an electric current, is positioned between the length of material 33 and the roll 35 and extends generally parallel to the axis of rotation of the rolls 34 and 35. Wire 38 is disposed in the path of a material component 39 caught on the roll 35 and unraveling from the length of material 33. With this arrangement the unraveling component 39 would be severed by its engagement with the heated wire 38.

While the material component severing device of the invention may assume a variety of forms, one manner in which a heated wire may be supported and heated by the passage of an electric current is illustrated schematically in FIGURE 4. The FIGURE 4 apparatus will be described with reference to the severing wire :20 incorporated in the FIGURE 1 apparatus.

As shown in FIGURE 4, the wire W is supported between conventional, insulating fittings an and 41. One such insulating fitting A l is secured to a frame or housing component 42 while the other fitting 41 is tensioned by means such as a coil spring t3 extending from a frame or housing portion 44-. With this mounting arrangement, the wire 24 is supported in tension between the frame or housing portions 42 and d4. A lead wire 45 extends from one end of the wire 20 to variable resistance unit 46 schematically illustrated in FIGURE 47 Another lead wire 47 extends from the other end of the wire 2d to terminate in a movable contact 48 engaged with a resistance coil 49 in the unit 46. The opposite ends of resistance coil 49 are connected with opposite poles 50 and 51 of any conveniently available source of electrical current. By appropriately adjusting the position of the contact 48 on the resistance coil 49, the desired magnitude of current flow through the wire 29 may be achieved so as to obtain the desired degree of resistance heating of this wire. In this manner, the temperature of the wire 29 may be elevated to the proper temperature for effecting the severing of material components.

FIGURE 5 illustrates a shielding device which may be associated with a severing device such as the wire 20.

As shown in FIGURE 5, a helical coil type of shield 52 co-axially encircles the wire 20 and is spaced from and electrically insulated from the Wire 20 by supporting insulating discs such as the disc 53. Where the helical coil shield 52 is employed, brackets 54- may encircle the coil 52 and extend therefrom to a suitable frame or housing component so as to provide support for the coil and thus additional support for the wire 2d.

As will be apparent by reference to FIGURE 5, the spacing of the convolutions of the helical coil 52 are such as to allow strand or material components to pass therebetween to engage the heated wire 29. However, the presence of the helical coil 52 will effectively prevent inadvertent contact between the wire 219 and body portions of machine operators while they are manipulating the machine components in close proximity to the wire 20 so as to prevent the incurrence of burns.

In describing the invention its several advantages have been made apparent. The heated surface severing device affords a structurally simple, yet operationally reliable mechanism for effecting the severing of unraveling material components. The electrically heated wire embodiment of the invention is characterized by structural simplicity and ease of adaptability or incorporation in existing material transporting structures. This device occupies a minimum of space so it may be positioned in close proximity to a point where material is released by a transporting mechanism.

As is apparent, the heated surface, material component severing device in no way interferes with the transportation of material. It thus is particularly adapted for use with mechanisms such as pattern control units utilized with tufting machines wherein precision feeding of closely spaced multi-componcnt strands is essential.

It is self-evident that this invention affords it maximum advantages where continuous filament strands are being fed by mechanisms such as a notched bar pattern control unit. The bar notches in such a control unit are often possessed of particularly serious strand catching tendencies. Continuous filaments, if caught on such notches, would likely interrupt the strand feeding and would certainly impair the control imposed on this feed. The heated wire, filament severing device, however, effectively and automatically prevents caught filaments from adversely affecting the strand feed to any significant degree and does so with minimum structural and space requirements.

While the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that additions, substitutions, modifications and deletions in the disclosed structures may be effected which would lie well within the purview of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A tufting mechanism comprisin a reciprocable needle bar carrying a plurality of tufting needles;

control means for feeding varying amounts of a plurality of multi-component strands to said tufting needles; and

at least one surface adapted to be heated to a strand component severing temperature, said surface being spaced from and adjacent the path of travel of said plurality of multi-component strands and extending generally transversely across said plurality of multicomponent strands and being disposed within paths which would be traversed by strand components caught on said movement controlling means and separating from said strands, said surface also being spaced from the paths which would be traversed by said strand components if such strand components have not caught on said control means.

2. An apparatus as described in claim It wherein said control means comprises:

first and second endless chain conveyers; and

a plurality of members carried by each of said endless chain conveyers, projecting outwardly therefrom, and extending transversely thereacross; with running lengths of said plurality of multi-component strands being adapted to extend between adjacent flights of said conveyers so that opposite sides thereof engage said members carried by said adjacent flights;

at least some of said outwardly projecting and transversely extending members having notches extending inwardly from the outer peripheries thereof, through which notches said running lengths of multi-component strands extend;

said members on said first conveyer projecting into spaces between said members on said second conveyer so as to deflect said running lengths of multicomponent strands;

said surface being positioned between said control means and said tufting needles.

3. An apparatus as described in claim 2 wherein said surface comprises at least one Wire adapted to be heated by a flow of electrical current therethrough.

4. An apparatus as described in claim 3:

wherein said movement controlling means is positioned above said needle bar such that said multi-component strands are inclined downwardly from said movement controlling means toward said needle bar;

wherein said first endless chain conveyor is superposed above said second endless chain conveyer; and

wherein said one wire is positioned above said inclined strands and within the path which would be traversed by strand components caught on notched members of said first endless chain conveyer, with said wire being disposed adjacent the point of disengagement of said strands from said notched members of said first, endless chain conveyor.

5. An apparatus for use in feeding varying amounts of running len ths of multi-component material along prescribed paths, said apparatus comprising:

material transporting means engaging at least one running length of multi-compouent material, said material transporting means comprising first and second endless chain conveyers, a plurality of members carried by each of said endless chain conveyers projecting outwardly therefrom and extending transversely thereacross, with a running length of multicomponent material being adapted to extend between adjacent flights of said conveyers so that opposite sides thereof engage such members carried by said adjacent flights, at least some of said outwardly projeeting and transversely extending members having notches extending inwardly from the outer periphery thereof, through which notches said running length of multi-component material extends, said members on said first conveyer projecting into spaces between said members on said second conveyer so as to deflect said running length of multi-component material; and

surface means spaced from and positioned in close proximity to said prescribed paths and adapted to be heated to a temperature sufficient to sever components of said material, said surface means being positioned within a path which would be traversed by material components caught on said material transporting means and separating from a running length of material and being effective to sever material components caught on said material transporting means.

6. An apparatus as described in claim 5 wherein said surface means comprises at least one wire spaced from the normal path of said multi-component material and adapted to be heated by a flow of electrical current therethrough, said wire extending transversely across the feed path of a running length of multi-component material.

'7. An apparatus as described in claim 6 further including a helical coil encircling said wire and spaced therefrom, said helical coil providing a barrier between its exterior and said wire but allowing material components to pass through the convolutions thereof to engage said wire.

8. An apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said surface means includes a first wire adapted to be heated by a flow of electrical current therethrough, said first wire being disposed within a path which would be traversed by a component of said material caught on said first roll means and separating from said running length of material and further includes a second wire adapted to be heated by a flow of electrical current therethrough, said second wire being disposed within a path which would be traversed by a component of said material caught on said second roll means and separating from said running length of material.

9. In a tufting machine of the type comprising a reciprocating needle bar, a plurality of needles carried by said needle bar, and a yarn control mechanism for feeding varying amounts of yarns to said needles along prescribed paths of travel, the combination therewith of a fibre severing means disposed between said needles and said yarn control mechanism and spaced from and in close proximity to said paths of travel for severing fibres which may incidentally be displaced from said yarns in the event said fibres are retained by said yarn control mechanism and pulled outwardly of said yarns as said yarns move said fibres toward said needles, said fibre severing means also being spaced from the paths which would be traversed by said strand components if such strand components have not caught on said control means.

10. The structure defined in claim 9 wherein said fibre severing means includes a surface disposed trans versely across the paths of travel of said yarns, and means for heating said surface to fibre severing temperature.

11. The structure defined in claim 9 wherein said fibre severing means is disposed adjacent said yarn control mechanism within the path which would be traversed by fibres of said yarns which are held by said yarn control mechanism as said yarns emerge from said yarn control mechanism.

12. The structure defined in claim 9 wherein said yarn control mechanism includes a pair of opposed conveyers with an exit end from which said yarns are discharged, and outwardly protruding members carried by said conveyers for interdigitation with respect to each other, said member being provided with outwardly opening slots, the edges of said members which define said slots incidentally engaging and retaining said fibres as said yarns emerge from said exit end of said conveyers, and wherein said fibre severing means is disposed adjacent said exit end of said yarn control mechanism sufficiently close to the path of travel of the fibres retained by both said yarns and said members that it severs such fibres.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 923,425 6/1909 Gin et al. 28-63 2,932,339 4/ 1960 Odenweller 112-79 X 3,050,600 8/1962 Brackin et a1. 83-171 X 3,095,841 7/1963 Ballard et a1. 112-79 FOREIGN PATENTS 7,849 1910 Great Britain.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

DAVID J. WILLIAMOWS-KY, Examiner.

M. I. COLITZ, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A TUFTING MECHANISM COMPRISING: A RECIPROCABLE NEEDLE BAR CARRYING A PLURALITY OF TUFTING NEEDLES; CONTROL MEANS FOR FEEDING VARYING AMOUNTS OF A PLURALITY OF MULTI-COMPONENT STRANDS TO SAID TUFTING NEEDLES; AND AT LEAST ONE SURFACE ADAPTED TO BE HEATED TO A STRAND COMPONENT SEVERING TEMPERATURE, SAID SURFACE BEING SPACED FROM AND ADJACENT THE PATH OF TRAVEL OF SAID PLURALITY OF MULTI-COMPONENT STRANDS AND EXTENDING GENERALLY TRANSVERSELY ACROSS SAID PLURALITY OF MULTICOMPONENT STRANDS AND BEING DISPOSED WITHIN PATHS WHICH WOULD BE TRAVERSED BY STRAND COMPONENTS CAUGHT ON SAID MOVEMENT CONTROLLING MEANS AND SEPARATING FROM SAID STRANDS, SAID SURFACE ALSO BEING SPACED FROM THE PATHS WHICH WOULD BE TRAVERSED BY SAID STRAND COMPONENTS IF SUCH STRAND COMPONENTS HAVE NOT CAUGHT ON SAID CONTROL MEANS. 